Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Age: The Case of Ghana and Nigeria by Sarah Norkor Anku and Co-authored by Onyinyechukwu Mary Magdalene Okeyea Dotsey

Copyright Enforcement in the Digital Age: The Case of Ghana and Nigeria by Sarah Norkor Anku, and Co-authored by Onyinyechukwu Mary Magdalene Okeyea Dotsey. In The Global IP Matrix Issue 23, Sarah Norkor Anku, Global Managing Partner, and co-authored by Onyinyechukwu Mary Magdalene Okeyea Dotsey, Head of Nigeria Office at SN Anku IP Firm, offer a powerful analysis of the growing copyright crisis in Ghana and Nigeria. As digital technology reshapes the creative economy, both countries struggle to curb rampant piracy, especially in the music and film industries.

Why It Matters

The article dives deep into the challenges that creators face in protecting their works online from legislative gaps and enforcement failures to public misunderstandings of digital IP laws. While Ghana and Nigeria are both parties to major international treaties (e.g., TRIPs, Berne, WIPO Treaties), their legal infrastructures have not kept pace with the rapid evolution of content-sharing platforms.

Key Legal Developments

• Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 provides limited digital protections, but enforcement remains weak.

• Ghana’s legal framework lacks digital-specific provisions, relying on outdated structures and limited intermediary liability under its Electronic Transactions Act.

Enforcement Gaps & Cultural Hurdles

The article highlights a case where Nigerian celebrities accused Ghanaian TV stations of airing content without consent, only to be met with public indifference and even defence of piracy as "promotion." In both countries, creators are often left defenceless, losing revenue to illegal streaming, unauthorised downloads, and unethical third-party licensing. Landmark Case Highlight

Femi Adebayo v. Aforevo TV: A 2024 Nigerian court awarded ₦25 million (~£12,000) in damages after a YouTube channel misled viewers by using Adebayo’s film trailer to promote unrelated content. The ruling set a vital precedent for digital copyright enforcement in West Africa.

Proposed Solutions

Anku recommends:

• Modernising laws to address streaming, platforms, and digital enforcement.

• Public education campaigns to raise IP awareness.

• Training enforcement agencies to recognise copyright as a serious legal right.

• Creative proactiveness: artists must assert and defend their rights through legal channels.
  

Conclusion

Anku’s article is a clarion call for action. Without swift reforms and deeper IP literacy, Africa’s thriving creative sector risks being stifled by unchecked infringement. It's time for bold legal, cultural, and structural changes.

Read the full article in The Global IP Matrix Issue 23 for exclusive insights into the copyright enforcement landscape in Ghana and Nigeria, and the urgent reforms needed to protect creators in the digital age.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE NOW!